Multi-mode controller

Abstract

A method and system for wireless communication is provided and may include, scanning by a wireless communication device, a plurality of radio frequencies for beacon messages from a plurality of master communication devices, in order to identify whether establishment of communication with at least one of said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks is possible. Each of the plurality of master communication devices may be associated with one of a plurality of time-synchronous RF networks. A network associated with one of the beacon messages may be selected based on predefined criteria. The selected network may be one of the plurality of time-synchronous RF networks. Communication may be established with said selected network by the wireless communication device. The plurality of time-synchronous RF networks may comprise a Bluetooth network and/or IEEE 802.11 Wireless Local Area (WLAN) network.

1. A method for wireless communication, the method comprising:
 scanning by a wireless communication device, a plurality of radio frequencies for beacon messages from a plurality of master communication devices, each of said plurality of master communication devices associated with one of a plurality of time-synchronous RF networks, to identify whether establishment of communication with at least one of said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks is possible; 
 selecting in accordance with a predefined criteria, a network associated with one of said beacon messages, wherein said selected network is one of said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks; and 
 establishing communication with said selected network by said wireless communication device. 
 
   
   
     2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks comprises a personal area network that supports data transfer rates up to 1 Mbit/sec and a distance of up to 10 meters. 
   
   
     3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks comprises a Wireless Local Area (WLAN) network. 
   
   
     4. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising configuring said wireless communication device to scan a first of said plurality of radio frequencies for a first network during a first scanning window and scan a second of said plurality of radio frequencies for a second network during a second scanning window. 
   
   
     5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said first scanning window comprises a first predefined time period and said second scanning window comprises a second predefined time period. 
   
   
     6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said first predefined time period is equal to said second predefined time period. 
   
   
     7. The method according to  claim 5 , comprising performing multiple scans during said first scanning window. 
   
   
     8. The method according to  claim 7 , comprising performing each of said multiple scans during said first scanning window for a predefined time period. 
   
   
     9. The method according to  claim 5 , comprising performing multiple scans during said second scanning window. 
   
   
     10. The method according to  claim 9 , comprising performing each of said multiple scans during said second scanning window for a predefined time period. 
   
   
     11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said predefined criteria comprises a user preference. 
   
   
     12. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said predefined criteria comprises relative bandwidth. 
   
   
     13. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said predefined criteria comprises relative quality of service (QoS). 
   
   
     14. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said predefined criteria comprises relative content. 
   
   
     15. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising configuring said wireless communication device to use a common portion of an RF radio front end to communicate with said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks. 
   
   
     16. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising sequentially scanning said plurality of radio frequencies for said beacon messages. 
   
   
     17. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising sequentially scanning said plurality of radio frequencies for said beacon messages using different radio interfaces. 
   
   
     18. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising sequentially scanning said plurality of radio frequencies for said beacon messages using different protocols for at least a portion of said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks. 
   
   
     19. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising sequentially scanning said plurality of radio frequencies for said beacon messages using different frequency hopping and modulation rate parameters. 
   
   
     20. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising sequentially scanning said plurality of radio frequencies for said beacon messages using different baseband processors. 
   
   
     21. The method according to  claim 20 , wherein said different baseband processors use a common RF radio front end to communicate with different ones of said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks. 
   
   
     22. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising sequentially scanning for an inquiry sequence from at least one of said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks. 
   
   
     23. A system for wireless communication, the system comprising:
 at least one circuit for use in a wireless communication device that enables scanning of a plurality of radio frequencies for beacon messages from a plurality of master communication devices, each of said plurality of master communication devices associated with one of a plurality of time-synchronous RF networks, to identify whether establishment of communication with at least one of said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks is possible; 
 said at least one circuit enables selection of a network associated with one of said received beacon messages, in accordance with a predefined criteria, wherein said selected network is one of said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks; and 
 said at least one circuit enables establishment of communication with said selected network by said wireless communication device. 
 
   
   
     24. The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks comprises a personal area network that supports data transfer rates up to 1 Mbit/sec and a distance of up to 10 meters. 
   
   
     25. The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks comprises a Wireless Local Area (WLAN) network. 
   
   
     26. The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said at least one circuit enables configuration of said wireless communication device to scan a first of said plurality of radio frequencies for a first network during a first scanning window and scan a second of said plurality of radio frequencies for a second network during a second scanning window. 
   
   
     27. The system according to  claim 26 , wherein said first scanning window comprises a first predefined time period and said second scanning window comprises a second predefined time period. 
   
   
     28. The system according to  claim 27 , wherein said first predefined time period is equal to said second predefined time period. 
   
   
     29. The system according to  claim 27 , wherein said at least one circuit performs multiple scans during said first scanning window. 
   
   
     30. The system according to  claim 29 , wherein said at least one circuit performs each of said multiple scans during said first scanning window for a predefined time period. 
   
   
     31. The system according to  claim 27 , wherein said at least one circuit performs multiple scans during said second scanning window. 
   
   
     32. The system according to  claim 31 , wherein said at least one circuit performs each of said multiple scans during said second scanning window for a predefined time period. 
   
   
     33. The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said predefined criteria comprises a user preference. 
   
   
     34. The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said predefined criteria comprises relative bandwidth. 
   
   
     35. The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said predefined criteria comprises relative quality of service (QoS). 
   
   
     36. The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said predefined criteria comprises relative content. 
   
   
     37. The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said at least one circuit enables configuration of said wireless communication device to use a common portion of an RF radio front end to communicate with said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks. 
   
   
     38. The system according to  claim 23 , said at least one circuit enables sequential scanning of said plurality of radio frequencies for said beacon messages. 
   
   
     39. The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said at least one circuit enables sequential scanning of said plurality of radio frequencies for said beacon messages using different radio interfaces. 
   
   
     40. The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said at least one circuit enables sequential scanning of said plurality of radio frequencies for said beacon messages using different protocols for at least a portion of said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks. 
   
   
     41. The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said at least one circuit enables sequential scanning of said plurality of radio frequencies for said beacon messages using different frequency hopping and modulation rate parameters. 
   
   
     42. The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said at least one circuit enables sequential scanning of said plurality of radio frequencies for said beacon messages using different baseband processors. 
   
   
     43. The system according to  claim 42 , wherein said different baseband processors use a common RF radio front end to communicate with different ones of said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks. 
   
   
     44. The system according to  claim 23 , wherein said at least one circuit enables sequential scanning for an inquiry sequence from at least one of said plurality of time-synchronous RF networks.